Cleft lip surgery is a procedure that restores the normal appearance and function of the upper lip. This surgery is usually recommended for children at 3 to 4 months of age. The tissues around the cleft are rearranged to close the abnormal opening.
A cleft lip is the separation of the upper lip that extends to the nose. The surgery fixes the cleft to reform the natural muscles of the upper lip by detaching and repositioning them. The cleft lip can be repaired in a single surgery or through multiple procedures, depending on the extent of correction required.